Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ken Osuagwu

David Brian Glickman

Martin D Lopez

Michael Jon Gutowski

Corey M Ross

Kyle Begle

A system includes a vehicle body which further includes a front beam. The system also includes an energy absorber that may be coupled to the front-end beam of the vehicle body. In an example, the energy absorber includes a first edge and a second edge that may be opposite to the first edge along a first direction. The energy absorber also includes a first exterior surface that extends between the first edge and the second edges of the energy absorber. Further, the first exterior surface includes a plurality of openings therein. The system also includes a grille having a first edge and a second edge which may be opposite to the first edge of the grille. In one example, the second edge of the grille may be coupled to the first edge of the energy absorber. The grille includes a plurality of extensions that may extend from the second edge in such a way that the plurality of extensions are positioned in the plurality of openings in the energy absorber.

Grille with integrated energy management system

An exemplary vehicular duct system includes, among other things, a duct wall of a first material composition, and a skeleton of a different, second material composition that is at least partially embedded within the duct wall. The skeleton is more compliant to an amount of force applied in a first direction than to the amount of force applied in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. An exemplary duct support method includes, among other things, supporting a duct wall having a first material composition with a skeleton having a different, second material composition. At least a portion of the skeleton is embedded within the duct wall. The skeleton is more compliant to an amount of force applied in a first direction than a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Ken Osuagwu